System incapable of taking full IPPs era: Nepra

ISLAMABAD: The Nationwide Electrical Energy Regulatory Authority (Nepra) has expressed critical considerations over lack of ability of the state-run transmission system to take full energy era from unbiased energy producers (IPPs) of round 1,600-megawatt, inflicting colossal loss to financial system and paying hefty capability costs for no use.

In its report “State of Business Report 2015”, the regulator has talked about particularly a lacking transmission hyperlink of a four hundred-MW energy plant Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had prematurely inaugurated sixteen months in the past regardless of public warnings. The road continues to be not in place and the plant unable to provide its full power.

Nepra additionally highlighted a collection of system shortcomings of the Nationwide Transmission and Despatch Firm (NTDC) – the state-run community operator. It defined that as operator, NTDC was required to assemble and function Additional Excessive Voltage (EHV) transmission strains and grid stations for transporting energy from the prevailing and new era amenities to the distribution system.

The regulator stated the prevailing EHV capability was “barely sufficient” to cater for the current era capability and positively not able to absorbing further upcoming era capability. It has been famous that eighty per cent transformers at 500kV and 220kV grid stations in several areas have been overloaded. With growing demand and extra era anticipated within the system because of upcoming tasks, the overloading of transformers would additionally improve in coming years.

It defined that there have been thirteen grid stations of 500kV with 33 transformers at 500/220kV degree. “Out of those eight transformers are loaded above 80pc of their rated capability. Equally, out of complete 129 variety of 220/132kV transformers ninety transformers are overloaded representing round 70pc overloading within the system.

Along with overloading of EHV transformers, constraints in energy dispersal from sure main energy crops and high quality points in NTDC’s system have additionally been reported. For instance, the Nepra famous that 404MW Uch-II energy plant was dealing with “evacuation issues because of transmission constraints”.

Situated at Dera Murad Jamali in Balochistan, the low BTU (therefore cheaper) fuel-fired plant was required to be linked with the nationwide grid by the NTDC. It was deliberate to assemble a 125km lengthy 220kV double circuit twin bundle transmission line from Uch-II energy plant to Sibbi sub-station for evacuation of energy after passing by means of Naseerabad, Kachi and Sibi districts.

As well as, a 500kV grid station at Shikarpur was additionally to be constructed. “Resulting from non-fulfilment of contractual obligations by NTDC, Uch-II energy plant is dealing with energy dispersal issues, transmission system constraints and frequent tripping on EHV networks, Nepra places on document.

Likewise, 226MW Engro Powergen Qadirpur Ltd, a mixed cycle energy plant “can also be dealing with the issue of low despatch/half load operation resulting from limitation and constraints of auto-transformer at 500kV Guddu Grid Station, which is reportedly leading to a income lack of Rs80 million” every year to the federal government.

Additionally, the 15MW Altern Power complicated was dealing with frequent tripping as a consequence of over/underneath voltage. In the course of the yr 2012-thirteen and 2013-14, this plant skilled sixty three and ninety nine tripping respectively as a result of grid failure.

Equally, energy evacuation constraints confronted by 235MW Liberty Energy have been additionally because of the tripping of grid system and different technical causes of transmission strains. 140MW Habibullah Coastal plant was not getting used optimally as a consequence of low voltage on the facility system and fuel curtailments in winter.

As well as, 180MW Basis Energy at Daharki was to be related with 220kV Rohri grid however resulting from delay in development of 220kV grid and transmission strains, the plant was briefly related with 132kV grid station Sadiqabad. It has skilled many tripping since commissioning because of the issues in transmission strains between Guddu and Sadiqabad. Afterward, 220kV New Rohri grid was commissioned and energy dispersal was offered on each finish, however nonetheless main a part of energy dispersal is thru 132kV Sadiqabad which isn’t an environment friendly answer.

Additionally, 400MW Nishat Energy Restricted and Nishat Chunian Energy Restricted have been dealing with energy evacuation issues since commissioning as a consequence of constraints within the grid system of Lahore Electrical Provide Firm.

The primary drawback is the constraint within the capability of three feeders which join Bhai Pheru and Sarfraz Nagar Grids. In case one line is out, the remaining two get overloaded and journey; resulting in a complete shutdown of each crops of 400MW and provide failure. In simply 12 months, Nishat Energy has confronted 14 such shutdowns whereas Nishat Chunian confronted forty five shutdowns since its commissioning.